I was enjoying a couple of days at Wallaga Lake on my return to Victoria following a visit to Queensland.

The lady at the caravan park told me of the walk between Upper and Lower Tilba Roads - the place where the old road has been washed away.

It was a beautiful day, calm and warm.  I walked along the beach for a while and then wandered up onto the track and was enchanted by the birds in the banksias and was concentrating on taking the odd photo.

I happened to look up and noticed a lady about 60-80m ahead of me ’taking a photo’ as she looked out to sea, so naturally I looked to see what had caught her interest and there were the dolphins coming my way as they surfed the breakers one after another. I was so excited!

The amazing thing is that I would have missed it completely had I not noticed her. The photo was truly a gift from God.

When I caught up to her she didn’t even have a camera or phone but just had her hands up visualising what a great photo it would be! The timing was incredible.

We fell into step together and enjoyed each other’s company as we wandered back to her car.

She offered me a ride back to the caravan park which I was happy to accept. She is a local lady who lives in Wallaga Lake.

I’m so disappointed that I can’t remember her name and have no way of sending her a photo that she was responsible for me taking.

I would love it if she sees the story in your paper and realises just how much I value her part in this story - actually, without her there would be no story or photographs.

Later that day I stopped at the little lookout spot at the eastern end of town and was treated to a display of 'tail slapping' by three or four whales that went on for about 10 minutes.

This was only the second time I had seen a whale and their performance delighted me.

No decent photos though, as they were quite some distance from shore, but for me it was the perfect close to a wonderful day in Bermagui.

Sandy Berthelsen

Healesville, Victoria

Share climate responsibility

For some years now the State and Federal Governments have involved themselves in what’s known to some as “cost shifting”, to local councils. That occurs when things that were in the past, the financially responsibility of either the State or Federal Governments or both in relation to the provision of community services or general community well-being matters.

Climate change and sea level rise projections affect all the nations residents and taxpayers, it’s not just those in local council areas where for example, sea level rises or projected estimates could impact on some individuals more than others if the projections of the “experts” and other consultants becomes a reality with sea level rises and climate change all the country’s population will be affected one way or another. That being the case any financial liability’s associated with planning for the future in relation to, projected sea level rise and climate change matters, should be shared by all levels of government, not just local councils and their residents in coastal areas. More lobbying for a political change needs to occur in relation to these two issues at this time.      

Allan Brown

Catalina

Council needs to explain

The third festival of hunting in Narooma has come and gone, to the dismay of a large number of locals who don’t feel they’ve been given a say as to whether it should have been held here in a public building in the main street in the first place, let alone with a licence to operate annually for five years.

The licence was originally for a photographic competition but since then has been extended or “varied” to include sale of guns and other “attractions” such as deer skinning, an archery display, knife sharpening, and a mobile shooting range.

These additions have been given the approval of the Eurobodalla Shire Council and a strong hunting lobby, but are of doubtful legality according to the Environment Defence Office unless there has been community consultation and agreement, and all development consent conditions have been satisfied to meet with the changed nature and scope of the event since 2012.  

Transparency and accountability are seen to be lacking in relationship to the holding of HuntFest in all its manifestations, and so Clr Harding, with the support of Clr Brice, responded to the concerns of local citizens by calling an extraordinary meeting of council to address this omission. 

At this meeting it was proposed that an independent review of the consultation and approval processes relating to council’s dealings with HuntFest and the sale of guns be examined independently, and the results made public.

The meeting, which was poorly attended by councillors, voted against Clr Harding’s motion and it was defeated on the mayor’s casting vote.

The motion was then immediately amended/altered by Clr Burnside so that an independent review of the processes followed by staff and councillors was changed to an internal review to be conducted by the general manager. One might believe that the general manager’s part up till now as a staff member with a large responsibility for council’s performance would make her ineligible for such a critical role, but this was not the case and the motion was hastily passed by the same councillors who had rejected Clr Harding’s original. 

In a radio interview the following morning the mayor (confident apparently in the review’s outcome) indicated that the 2016 HuntFest would go ahead, regardless of the review.

So much for democratic decision making!

Why has council given so little acknowledgement and had such a contemptuous attitude to the large number of residents.

Susan Cruttenden

Dalmeny

No need for questions

In the Narooma News of July 1, the president of the South Coast Hunters Club, Dan Field, complains that I have not submitted to him a list of questions I would like answered in regard to HuntFest.

I have no questions to ask Mr Field.  The only issue at stake here is the celebration of killing animals as some sort of sport and the sale of guns in the main street of Narooma.

There is nothing Mr Field can tell me, and many other local residents, that will change my view about the unacceptability of such an event.

I note also that, a month after this year's HuntFest took place, Mr Field has finally come up with an excuse for not allowing the ABC entrance. 

Clr Gabi Harding

Moruya

Federal government attack on environmental NGOs

The Federal Government has set up an enquiry into ENGOs (Environmental Non-Government Organisations) and is aiming to damage their effectiveness by removing the tax-deductible status of groups like Clean Energy for Eternity Solar Citizens and World Wildlife Fund.

Some Coalition MPs seem to be determined to destroy environmental advocacy or at least damage its effectiveness.

When confronted by CSG (Coal Seam Gas) intrusions, devastating open cut mining or pollution from tailings there is a focal point for community actions.

These actions will happen with or without ENGO support but the ENGO is still needed to note, document, isolate and draw attention to environmental damage and to speak truth to power.

The early stages of environmental damage are frequently missed. I moved into this area almost 10 years ago and when I first came here it was common at certain times of the year to see cars stop on the road near moorhen swap on the way into Bermagui, waiting while a fresh water turtle crossed the road, perhaps looking for a spot to lay.

They were also seen from time to time near the Old Tilba Road and I have seen one quite high on the hill near Wallaga Lake.

It is now about five years since I last saw a turtle and I think this may be an early sign of a collapsing ecosystem.

I support several ENGOs and I made a submission to the enquiry. I want a government that recognises threats to the environment threaten many species and that collapsing ecosystems are a threat to everyone on the planet. We need ENGOs that are well funded, able to flag these early warning signs and record them.

We also need ENGOs that can make the point in ways that powerful corporations, rich elites and government can understand. We need government to cease attacking the environmental movement.

Jo Lewis

Akolele

Mayor's say - Tourism: always everybody’s business

TOURISM is worth more than $2 billion annually to the South Coast economy and the industry directly employs around 3,300 people in the region, or 6.8 per cent of total employment.

With those kinds of figures, it’s no wonder Council devotes significant resources towards the industry and late last month we received good news from Destination NSW that our tourism growth remains strong.

The latest domestic tourism data tells us that overnight visitors and the total visitor spend for Eurobodalla have all grown since last year. The ‘Unspoilt’ tourism marketing campaign, currently being seen in Canberra and Sydney, was developed by Destination NSW in partnership with the South Coast Regional Tourism Organisation and the region’s five local councils. The commitment to combine our resources and market collaboratively is paying off.

Business owners who would like to get involved in tourism development at a strategic level might be interested in joining council’s tourism advisory board. We currently have two vacancies on the committee, which was established in 2014 with the aim of helping council raise awareness of the value and benefits of tourism and to provide advice on tourism related matters.

Expressions of interest close on August 14 and I encourage local business people who are committed to bringing their expertise and ideas to complete an application, available on council’s website.

We received some good suggestions and information as well as concerns about our visitor services proposal which was on public exhibition during May.

The proposal presented a package aimed at improving the way visitors find information, but unfortunately much of the feedback only addressed whether the Narooma Visitor Centre was going to close, which has never been suggested by council.

Councillors and the Tourism Advisory Committee have been briefed on the feedback and the next step is a report to Council in August. The cost of running our two visitor centres is significantly higher than some other local government areas and we are committed to finding a solution that will address rising costs and provide a way to reallocate funds to attracting visitors to come here in the first place.

This will be addressed particularly through increasing our digital marketing, while still meeting the needs of the smaller percentage of our visitors who use a visitor centre.

One way we’re doing this is with our brand new tourism website, which went live last Thursday at www.eurobodalla.com.au

The site shows off our brilliant tourism product with large scale photos and integrated social media platforms, and is mobile responsive.

Another new feature is that holidaymakers can now book directly with the business of their choice.

We’ve already had lots of feedback, which we welcome, and I congratulate our hardworking tourism team for their efforts in getting the new site up and running. If you have any comments or suggestions, please email marketing@eurobodalla.com.au

I am so impressed that 16 local businesses have entered the 2015 South Coast Tourism Awards.

Our tourism team has been busy assisting businesses with their applications and they tell me the standard is very high.

Last year we championed the establishment of an accessible tourism category and I’m very pleased this important market segment has attracted a number of entrants this year. The gala presentation evening will be held on 26 August and I’m looking forward to plenty of Eurobodalla success on the night.

Please let me know if there are any issues that Council can assist with. You can contact me at mayor@eurocoast.nsw.gov.au or phone 0418 279 215.

Clr Lindsay Brown

Mayor of Eurobodalla Shire